What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces/Panax Ginseng Flower Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lycopodium Clavatum Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlutathione
Water, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Saccharomyces/Panax Ginseng Flower Ferment Extract, Hexylresorcinol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glutathione
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantAgastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-68
Bleaching
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPullulan
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Oleate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hydroxyproline
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hexylresorcinol, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Dipeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Oligopeptide-68, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, Bisabolol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethyl Linoleate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyproline, Acetyl Hydroxyproline, Citric Acid, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAnother popular name for this ingredient is Synovea HR. This ingredient is a skin lightener and antioxidant.
Like other skin lighteners, it blocks the process of skin darkening. Specifically, this ingredient blocks tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for darkening skin when exposed to UV.
Hexylresorcinol works well with other ingredients. Studies show this ingredient boosts the effect of niacinamide, various forms of vitamin C, and retinoids.
Many consider this to be a safer alternative to hydroquinone. In fact, this ingredient produces the same results as hydroquinone in lower amounts.
Fun fact: This ingredient can also be found food and medicine for treating skin infections.
Gentle reminder from SkinSort: all skin tones are beautiful!
Learn more about HexylresorcinolPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
